A little taste of MAF ...

Hey guys! For those of you who haven't had an opportunity to talk with us or look up what MAF does, here are some quick facts, stats and stories that give you a little glimpse into the MAF world. So whether you like numbers, or stories, I've tried to include something for both types of people here!

• MAF's mission: Sharing God's love through aviation and technology
• MAF's vision: Isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ's name.
• MAF operates in 30 countries around the world.
• MAF currently operates approximately 136 aircraft worldwide!
• Almost 1500 people work for MAF around the world--expats, nationals, and support staff.
• MAF partners with almost 1500 organizations to multiply their effectiveness--including organizations like World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Tearfund, and UNICEF.

Click here to see this 2012 MAF fact sheet enlarged. So many cool stats!

So, those facts are pretty astounding ... but what does this look like on the ground level? What are MAF pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and IT staff doing on a day-to-day basis? We've been told it's hard to generalize--every day could look completely different! I did come across a cool story though that gives a little glimpse into one way MAF pilots and staff partner with others to "demonstrate and proclaim" the name of Jesus. It's a recent story from the MAF base in Madagascar.

A young woman in rural Madagascar was violently beat by cattle thieves and needed desperate medical attention for herself and her unborn child. It was a matter of life or death, and the only hospital that would be able to properly provide medical attention for her was in the capital--200 miles away, or a two day trek on some very difficult roads.

MAF was able to partner with two trusted doctors and fly out to the village the next day. Meanwhile, one of MAF's partners, an NGO called HoverAid, put all the necessary pieces in place to get the young woman to the airstrip where MAF could pick her up. The doctors were able to do a quick ultrasound to determine the baby was still alive--but the bleeding was such that no one was sure the baby would survive.

MAF was able to safely deliver the young woman to the hospital, and from there, to step back and pray for her. Fortunately, both mom and newborn daughter are doing well--and the young mother named her new daughter Faustine, after one of the doctors that had come to save her!

How cool is that? As Marcel and I wait to hear where we are going ... we love reading the stories of MAF's work. It fits so well with what we both believe is our jobs as "Christ-followers" in this world--to love people, serve people, and proclaim Jesus while doing so! MAF does just that--loving and serving (isolated) people! (P.S. More stories to come!)

People gathered around an MAF plane in Madagascar.

The young woman was transferred to an MAF aircraft and taken to the hospital.